Rhododendron plant named &#39;BAILEC&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhododendron  cultivar named ‘BAILEC’ is disclosed, characterized by semi-double red flowers, with uniquely rosebud shaped flower buds. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall and have an attractive mounded shape, and are easy to maintain in the landscape. The new cultivar is a  Rhododendron , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Rhododendron hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘BAILEC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor, Robert Edward Lee. The inventor's intention was to develop Rhododendron hybrid plants with re-blooming characteristics. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘BAILEC’, was discovered as a seedling, resulting from the open pollination of Rhododendron ‘Roblea’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,142. The pollen parent is unknown. The open pollination resulting in the new variety occurred during 1994. The new variety was selected by the inventor during 1997 at a commercial nursery in Independence, La.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘BAILEC’ by vegetative terminal cuttings Fall of 1997 at the same commercial nursery in Independence, La. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BAILEC’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BAILEC’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BAILEC’ as a new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar:

1. Unique Spring, Summer, and Fall blooming.

2. Unique flower bud shape, similar to a rosebud.

3. Mounding plant habit.

4. Semi-double red flower.

5. Good landscape growth habit, easy to maintain at a size of 3 feet by 3 feet.

6. Hardy to at least Zone 7.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘BAILEC’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the seed parent Rhododendron hybrid ‘Roblea’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEC’ however differ in the following:

1. The new variety has a red flower, the seed parent has a salmon colored flower. 2.The new variety produces a uniquely shaped bud, resembling a rosebud, not observed in the parent variety.

Pollen parent is unknown.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BAILEC’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Roblec’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,339. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEC’ are similar to plants of ‘Roblec’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEC’ differ in the following:

1. ‘BAILEC’ flowers are red, flowers of ‘Roblec’ are pink. 2. Plants of ‘BAILEC’ grow more slowly than plants of ‘Roblec’ 3. Mature foliage of ‘BAILEC’ is dark green, near RHS Green 139A, mature foliage of ‘Roblec’ is Yellow-Green 147A.

‘BAILEC’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Conlea’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,438. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEC’ are similar to plants of ‘Conlea’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BAILEC’ differ in the following;

1. ‘Bailec’ has red flowers, ‘Conlea’ has red-purple flowers

2. Plants of ‘Bailec’ are more slow growing.

3. Mature foliage of ‘BAILEC’ is dark green, near RHS Green 139A, mature foliage of ‘Conlea’ is Yellow-Green 147A.

4. Foliage of ‘BAILEC’ is more pubescent than foliage of ‘Conlea’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a 2 year old plant of the new variety in a 3 gallon pot. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of typical flower buds of the new variety. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BAILEC’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid ‘BAILEC’. -   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and     Summer.     -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.             Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen shrub.         -   Height.—Approximately 75 cm to top of foliar and flowering             plane.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 70 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Moderately well branched,             approximately 3 to 4 primary branches from the center of the             plant. Branches occur at approximately 45° to 75° angles.             Each primary branch has 3 to 8 lateral branches.         -   Primary branches.—         -   Length of primary branches.—Primary branches are pinched,             remaining at approximately 8 cm.         -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 1.5 cm.         -   Primary branch strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.         -   Primary branch color.—Near Greyed-Orange 177B.         -   Primary branch texture.—Slightly rough, moderately scaly.         -   Lateral branches.—         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 3 to 8 per primary             branch.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Average range 35 to 50 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, flexible.         -   Lateral branch color.—Newest growth near RHS Greyed-Purple             183B, young growth near Yellow-Green 146D; oldest branches             become woody, colored near Brown 200D with faint tinge of             Brown N200D.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Immature growth pubescent, hairs             appresed. Older growth somewhat rough, pubescent.         -   Internode length.—Average range 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Sub-opposite. Average             Length: Approximately 4.5 cm. Average Width: Approximately             1.6 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptic Apex: Murcronate. Base:             Attenuate. Attachment: Stalked Margin: Entire. Cilliate.             Texture of top surface: Pubescent. Hairs appressed. Texture             of bottom surface: Moderately pubescent. More hairs along             mid-vein. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146A Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146B Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green             139A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 151A Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 151B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.7 cm. Diameter: About 0.15 cm             Color: Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144D Lower             Surface: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 185A. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Plants begin flowering in the Spring, and             continue to produce flowers throughout Summer and Fall.         -   Flower.—Arrangement: Axillary clusters of perfect,             individual flowers. Flowers have a shortened tube, compared             to typical Rhododendron flowers. Typically 2 to 5 flowers             per cluster.         -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 5.0 cm. Diameter: Average             10.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Not present, inflorescence pedicels emerge             directly from node.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Average 0.9 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm. Color:             Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186C Texture: Densely pubescent.             Long, soft hairs colored near White N155A Aspect: Straight.             Angle of attachment, approximately 15° angle from stem.             Strength: Sturdy and flexible.         -   Flowers.—Length: Average 3.5 cm. Diameter: Average 2.5 cm.             Facing direction: Upward facing. Persistent or             self-cleaning: Corolla self-cleaning Fragrance: Faint musty             scent. Tube: Tube length: Approximately 0.5 cm Tube width a             widest point: Approximately 0.4 cm Tube width and narrowest             point: Approximately 0.3 cm Petals: Unfused petal segments:             Length: Average range 1.1 to 2.0 cm. Width: Average range             0.6 to 1.2 cm. Apex: Blunt, rounded. Shape of petal: Unfused             portion, oblong. Petal margin: Entire. Petal Arrangement:             Whorled. Petals fused at base. Petal Number: Average 15             to 22. Petal Texture: Smooth Color: Upper surface at first             opening: Near RHS Red 53C. Under surface at first opening:             Near RHS Red 53B. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS Red             53C. Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Red 53C. Upper             surface at fading: Near RHS Red 53D. Under surface at             fading: Near RHS Red 53D.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.4 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Color:             Near RHS Red 53B.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Deltate             Length: 0.5 cm Width: 0.3 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused Margin:             Entire Texture: Sericeous Color: Inner Surface: Near RHS             Green 138A Outer Surface: Near RHS Green 138A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5, unfused Stamen Length: Approximately 0.7             cm Width: 0.1 cm Color: Near RHS White N155C Anthers:             Length: Approximately 0.15 cm Color: Near RHS Green-White             157A Pollen: Not observed.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: Average range 0.4 cm Style:             Length: Average 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS White N155C Stigma:             Linear, colored Near RHS Green-White 157A Ovary: Sericeous             texture. Approximately 0.3 cm in diameter. Colored near             Green-White 157A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron.         -   Temperature tolerance.—USDA Zone 7, presumed hardy to Zone             6.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘BAILEC’ as herein illustrated and described. 